BioNetwork’s STEM Outreach Team is available to support your school and programs with FREE resources! Some examples include no-cost lab and classroom visits, hands-on vertical alignment PD hosted for grades 6-16 educators, curriculum materials, and more.
Classroom Visits
Our coordinators will come to your life science classes and deliver an engaging hands-on lab experience tailored to your curriculum. We have class sets of equipment and a variety of lessons that put a fresh spin on traditional laboratory exercises. View our STEM Lab Activities List and request a visit today!* If you'd like for us to customize an activity for your classroom, please note that in your request.
*As a FREE resource funded by the State of North Carolina and as part of the NC Community College System, priority will be given to requests made by Tier 1 schools as well as schools and community organizations in rural and economically disadvantaged areas that have limited access to resources. Should you need support beyond what BioNetwork is able to offer, please see the list of Grant Resources below.
Instructional Materials
Due to our high demand for quality labs and activities yet limited resource availability, STEM Outreach has consolidated the types of activities that we offer in-person led by a BioNetwork staff member. BioNetwork in-person classroom visits will include labs that require specialized equipment such as gel electrophoresis, PCR, and various probeware. For those activities that do not require specialized equipment (i.e. strawberry DNA extraction) we can offer access to a shared online folder of classroom activities. To access this folder you first must fill out our Agreement for Using BioNetwork STEM Outreach Activities. Please note this form does not give instant access. A member of STEM Outreach checks requests weekly and sends a link to a Google Folder to those who have submitted.
Looking to borrow equipment to run a lab on your own? The Science House has an equipment loan service allowing you to borrow science tools after completing a professional development.
Professional Development
We offer a variety of professional development opportunities for college instructors and middle/high school educators. These opportunities can include content-specific activities, pedagogical methods, team-building, and soft-skills reinforcement. PD workshops for middle and high school educators or counselors hosted at your institution can bring opportunities for vertical alignment and promotion of your specific programs. View our current professional development opportunities, or request a customized PD today!
NC Community Colleges, consider hosting a PD for your local K-12 teachers! Check out our Host a Customized PD flier.
If you are an NC Community College life science faculty or staff, consider joining the North Carolina Community College Association for Bioscience Instructors. NC3ABI is an organization meant to continuously improve life science instruction, foster fellowship, and increase communication across the great 58. All full time, part-time, and adjunct life science faculty and staff are invited to attend annual regional and statewide events. If interested in joining, contact nc3abi@gmail.com.
Curriculum Development & Outreach Support
BioNetwork specializes in the creation and implementation of large outreach events. These programs are designed to make it easy for schools, community colleges, and industries to showcase STEM skills and careers as well as local STEM educational pathways.
Example programs include: EASE for middle schoolers, STEM summer camps, high school career exploration, and Community STEM Events.
Grant Resources:
- Burroughs Welcome Fund Science Education Grants
- Golden Leaf Foundation
- NC Beautiful Grants
- Bright Ideas: NC Electric Cooperatives
- Donors Choose
Life Science Conferences in NC
- Bridging the Gap - next conference October 22-23, 2024 @ RTP, NC
- NCSTA (North Carolina Association of Science Teachers) - next conference November 7-8, 2024 @ Winston-Salem, NC
- Science for All Summit - next conference February 20-21, 2025 @ Chapel Hill, NC
Request a STEM Event
To request an event, please fill out our STEM Event Request Form.
Our outreach programs include classroom visits, faculty training workshops, and career fairs that help connect bioscience industry skills with K12 and community college STEM education.
Contact us at engage@ncbionetwork.org for more information.
Courtney Behrle, Senior Director of STEM Outreach
252-493-7299
